BOOK EXTENSION ACTIVITY - LESSON PLAN

Your Name: Aashene Adams Genre of the Book: Informational

Book Title: Miles and Miles of Reptiles Author: Tish Rabe

Illustrator: Aristides Ruiz
Publisher: Random House Date: 2009

1. Activity/Lesson Standards:
Life Science:
L5D- Students understand that living things can be classified according to physical
characteristics, behaviors and habitats.
Language Arts:
(2)2.14- describe classify, compare and contrast pictures and information

2. Objectives:
a. SWBAT: Create a compare and contrast poster highlighting two of the reptiles
from the book.
b. SWBAT: Do a coloring activity sheet in class
c. SWBAT: Take home an alligator activity project

3. Materials/Equipment: Book Miles and Miles of Reptiles; white poster board;

pencils, crayons or markers

4. Teaching:

Does anyone know what a snake eats?

What about a turtle? Have you ever seen one eating dinner? They are very
different, Right? But did you know that snakes and turtles come from the
same family? They do! They come from the Reptile family. Today we are
going to learn about reptiles, all different types.

Please listen carefully to Miles and Miles of Reptiles. We will brainstorm characteristics of
different types of reptiles as a class so please listen carefully until the very end.

Read the book Miles and Miles of Reptiles to the class

At the end of the story, call on random students: Give me one word that describes a
reptile in the book we just read. (Do not match up reptiles to descriptions during the
class brainstorming session because the students will be asked to do that when they work
on their posters.)
Group descriptions into the following categories:
o physical characteristics; including camouflage and any other adaptions. (Legs?
Teeth? Shell? Scales?)
o Habitats
o Eating Habits (what and how they eat)
 o Poisonous and non-poisonous
o Movement (running, sliding, swimming)
o Behaviors unique to animal

Divide the class into small groups

o Have each group choose two reptiles from the book to compare.
Give each group a poster board and divide the board into 3 sections.
o Have groups label each section as follows:
First section: Reptile Choice #1 with drawing (e.g chameleon)
Second section: Similarities
Third section: Reptile Choice #2 with drawing (e.g. rattlesnake)
Instruct each group to list characteristics unique to each chosen reptile under each picture
(first and third sections), using information from the book and class discussion. Then
they should list similarities shared both by reptiles in second section.
Bring class back together. Each group will take turns explaining information on their
posters with the rest of the class.

CLOSURE
Students will be given a coloring handout to complete to end the activity.
Students will be given a take home Alligator project to complete and bring back to
class.

Assesment
Miles and Miles of Reptiles Good Compare Reptile
Activity Listener at and Individu
story time Contrast al
and Group Coloring
Reptile activity Sheet
Brainstorm and
Participatio Presentatio
n n
Not involved/ Distracted/
Incomplete
0-1 0-1 0-1
Did participate but could have
said more/Coloring sheet 2-3 2-3 2-3
incomplete

Brainstorm/Presentation/Colori
ng Sheet Completed 4-5 4-5 4-5